Documents disclosed for Professor Bret Weinstein’s lawsuit at Evergreen State College reveals the length and history of his battle for free speech on campus.
According to documents included in the suit, tensions over Weinstein’s fight for free expression extend back to May 2016 when he challenged the introduction of the Equity and Inclusion Council, a modified version of an old committee that would ultimately oversee the college’s “Equity Fund” and exercise influence over the hiring of new faculty. Weinstein expressed concern over the way the Council was formed, mainly that it was designed without an opportunity for a large chunk of faculty to voice their own opinions.
“Professor Bret Weinstein objected to the lack of discussion, and carefully acknowledged the danger of challenging the wisdom of such a resolution in the current climate,” Weinstein’s lawyers wrote in a document included in the suit.
Weinstein also explained that opposing a proposal centered on the concept of “equity” put its detractors at risk of being labeled a bigot by faculty. According to the document, Weinstein “went on to explain that he was afraid that speaking against an ‘equity’ resolution might result in others portraying him as a white person self-servingly acting to protect unearned privilege.”
A central figure at Evergreen that stood in opposition to Weinstein was Professor Naomi Lowe. “If you think faculty autonomy is being targeted, you’re right,” Lowe allegedly told Weinstein, according to an exchange described in one of the documents in the suit. “I am sick and tired of asking our students of color to articulate the experiences of racism that they have faced. We have an obligation to simply accept what they say.”
On April 12, Evergreen held its Day of Absence event as scheduled. After news of Weinstein’s opposition to the event spread around campus, tensions heightened and a group of 50 angry students stormed Weinstein’s classroom on the morning of May 23, demanding his resignation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTNoFGIRt1M
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